Middle East

Shopping

Malaysians love shopping,
which explains the vast number
of luxury malls, stores and
street-side stalls in the
capital, Kuala Lumpur. From
designer goods to the latest
electronic gadgets, the
constantly changing product
range includes an extensive
collection of designer labels
from the fashion capitals of
the world. If you are a
shopaholic, the best time to
visit is during the 1Malaysia
Mega Sale Carnival, which
takes place around June–
September every year.

The exemption of duty on a
range of items has made
shopping in Malaysia even more
attractive. Duty-free items
like cameras, watches, pens,
cosmetics, perfumes, mobile
phones, computers, cigarettes
and liquor are among the
cheapest in the world. If
you’re shopping for these,
check out the duty-free
islands of Labuan and
Langkawi, and the duty-free
shops in Kuala Lumpur, Penang,
international airports and
city centres.

Local regulations ensure items
are price-tagged and
prominently displayed,
particularly at shopping
complexes where prices are
fixed. Malls are also where
you can conveniently find
banks, foreign currency
exchange counters,
supermarkets and hundreds of
shops offering a tremendous
variety of goods.

For light, casual shopping,
there are roadside stalls,
bazaars and night markets in
towns throughout the country.
And don’t forget to visit one
of the colourful, bustling
night markets or 'pasar malam'
– found in most neighbourhoods
on certain days of the week.
Here you’ll find a great array
of items, local foods and
fruits, available for a steal
depending on your bargaining
skills. It can be quite a
humorous exercise as the
traders are generally
enthusiastic and friendly.

Key Tips

The rule of thumb is that anything with a price tag on it cannot be bargained, particularly at supermarkets and malls. However, if you’re shopping at by the roadside stalls or at night markets, this is where you may put your haggling skills to good use.

Cash is accepted at night markets while major credit cards are accepted in most shops in the malls and shopping complexes.

Many malls in Malaysia open till late at night, around 10pm, ensuring there is plenty of time for your shopping adventures.